Fair Play: Call for media discourse

DT News Network

The Arab Information Ministers Council has approved Bahrain's proposal to form a specialised work team to follow up on technical and legal procedures concerning suspension of satellite channels transmitting via Arabsat and other satellites for defaming Arab countries, sowing sedition and sectarianism and inciting terrorism.

Information Minister Isa bin Abdulrahman Al Hammadi hailed the move which, he said, reflected collective Arab awareness regarding the importance of the satellite channels' commitment to the Arab Media Charter of Honour and international conventions which forbid incitement of sectarianism, hostility, hatred, violence and terrorism.

He was speaking at the 46th regular session of the Arab Information Ministers yesterday, which convened in Cairo under the theme "the Role of Media in Promoting Values of Tolerance and Combatting Terrorism".

The minister urged to boost the role of mass media and telecommunication means in protecting the Arab cultural and civilisational identity, fighting ideological extremism, violence and terrorism as well as confronting media misinformation and suspending channels defaming Arab countries and inciting sedition and sectarianism.

The Information Minister called on the Arab countries to assume their joint responsibility in developing the media discourse and keeping abreast of political, security and technical developments. He urged to form a unified front to confront regional and international challenges and deter defamatory media campaigns. He underscored Bahrain's keenness to promote pan-Arab media work and enhance the role of the media in fostering intellectual and inter-cultural dialogue as well as defending crucial Arab issues through an effective and influential vision.